Cranio-Maxillofacial anomalies are usually caused because of folic acid deficiency in the mother due to pregnancy, or genetic mutations. Such types of abnormalities do not have any direct correlation with environmental components or drugs, however, factors like these may be contributors for such conditions. Certain facial deformities can interfere with normal functions like eating and speech and language and may cause dental problems and hearing loss. Not to mention, abnormal facial appearances often result in psychological and social issues if not corrected.

Cranio-maxillofacial surgery is a specialty branch of Oral and maxillofacial surgery that deals specifically with the correction of congenital and acquired deformities of the face, head, skull, neck, jaws, and the associated structures.

A Cranio-Maxillofacial surgeon can treat the following conditions:

Craniosynostosis - Non-syndromic (Metopic, Coronal, Sagittal, Lambdoid, Multi-suture) and syndromic (Apert, Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Muenke, Saethre-Chotzen)
Facial clefts - Cleft lip, Cleft palate, Cleft lip and palate, Submucous cleft palate and rare facial clefts
Craniofacial trauma - Facial and skull fractures, injuries
Vascular anomalies - Haemangiomas, arterial and venous malformations, AV malformations and Lymphangiomas
Jaw deformities (Orthognathic surgery) - Overbite, Underbite, Crossbite, Small chin, Flat face

Pediatric Head and neck cancer reconstruction

Facial palsy

Snoring and Obstructive sleep apnoea

Other conditions - Neurofibroma, Encephaloceles, Fibrous dysplasia, Craniofacial microsomia, Romberg's disease, and Dermoid

A multi-disciplinary approach is required for Cranio-Maxillofacial treatment. A team of specialists is involved in treatments, depending on the specific case of Cranio-Maxillofacial abnormality. The team constitutes of the following specialists:

Craniofacial Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
Ophthalmologist
ENT surgeon
Dentist & Orthodontist
Speech pathologist
Paediatric & Neuro anaesthetist
Pediatrician
Neuropsychiatrist

Thanks to the advances made in anaesthetic and Cranio-Maxillofacial practices, it is completely safe to perform craniofacial and cleft surgeries in children. With excellent pediatric ICU Services and organized Neuro Anaesthesia and Paediatric teams, the procedure can be performed without any complications. Such surgeries can be performed in babies as young as 3 months old.

It depends on the particular condition and the type of procedure being performed. Some of the major procedures performed in children include:

Cleft lip operation is usually done at the age of 4-6 months
Cleft palate operation is usually performed when the baby is 9-12 months old.
Alveolar bone grafting to the upper jaw can be performed when the child is 9-10 years old
Jaw surgeries for correcting the deformities of the jaw is performed at adolescence, i.e, between the age of 14-18 years. Jaw surgery is usually followed by rhinoplasty and touch-up procedures.

After the main procedure, some children might need additional procedures such as surgery for correcting speech, dental extractions, and insertion of a ventilation tube to the ears.

Most of the cosmetic procedures are day-care procedures, i.e., they can be performed on an outpatient basis. However, there might be a need to stay overnight in some cases for the patient’s convenience.

Most of the surgeries are performed under general anaesthesia, so you won’t experience any pain. After the procedure, our acute pain service team will help you with any pain you experience.

The recovery time depends on the type of procedure. However, for day-care procedures, there is a short recovery time and you can return to normal activities within a couple of days. Consult with our specialist regarding the recovery time for the specific procedure you undergo.